In 2021, the South Australian Government granted $1 million over two years to assist Primary Producers SA (PPSA) in developing primary industries in South Australia. One of the expectations was that the funding would support PPSA to represent key policy needs of primary industries to State Government, particularly through input into legislative reform.

In advising on primary industries development activities, PPSA develops and implements cross-commodity policies and projects that promote the social, economic, and environmental sustainability of the South Australian primary production sector. Our commodity group membership extends to the grain, livestock, dairy, forestry, horticulture and winegrape industries.

As shown in this report, PPSA has proven to be an efficient and effective conduit to the primary production sector by coordinating cross-industry engagement, while becoming a trusted adviser to the Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development and the Chief Executive of the Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA).

• PPSA has demonstrated its capacity to respond and adapt to the government priorities of the day, including but not limited to, preparedness for Exotic Animal Disease incursions, the development of the Premier’s Green Economy strategy, developing an industry-wide approach to mitigating spray-drift, and co-sponsoring the 2023 Primary Industries Forum organised by PIRSA.
• PPSA has demonstrated the value of ongoing coordination of industry engagement to the effective workings of government. Through improved professionalism and capacity, PPSA has assumed co-leadership of the formal PPSA-PIRSA Strategic Meetings held on a quarterly basis, in addition to establishing formal quarterly meetings with the Minister. These forums are critical to maintaining two-way dialogue and offer direct engagement between industry and government.

Government funding has enabled PPSA to transform its business to a professional and well-resourced representative body for the state’s primary producers, who are responsible for generating $17.3 billion in primary industries and agribusiness economic activity.

Significant time and resources have been directed to documenting PPSA’s policy research and promoting the work program undertaken as part of this Grant. This has included launching a new website as an information portal for the project outcomes and resources. PPSA has also established a regular media presence and sponsored many industry events through speaking opportunities to promote South Australian agriculture to the broader community.

PPSA is proud to champion the significant contribution our sector makes across the broad portfolio of government policies and programs in our role as a peak industry body. By providing a strong, united voice, we can help ensure our sector continues to thrive.

A new pilot project led by Primary Producers SA and the Department of Primary Industries and Regions will help both industry and government better prepare for the impacts of natural disasters and climate change.

 Through the Preparing primary industries for the impacts of compounding and complex disasters project, PPSA has engaged three of its commodity group members in the South Australian Forest Products Association, the South Australian Dairyfarmers’ Association, and the Wine Grape Council of SA to deliver the pilot.

The project will see SAFPA, SADA and WGCSA engage with producers and stakeholders to identify key natural disaster risks to each industry, what is required from both government and industry to reduce the impact of such events and how best to aid in recovery.

 The primary outcome of the project will be an increased understanding of industries’ vulnerabilities and the commitment to shared responsibility between government and industry to address gaps.

 Why?

Ultimately, we want to protect SA’s $18.5 billion primary industries and agribusiness sector.

According to the Australian Government’s National Emergency Management Agency, for every $1 invested in disaster risk reduction, up to $9.60 can be saved in post-disaster recovery and loss. However, between 2005 and 2022, 98 per cent of Australian government funding invested in disasters went towards recovery and relief rather than building resilience.  

Australia’s exposure to disaster risk continues to increase, with new risks emerging at an accelerated pace.

Disasters such as bushfire, heatwaves, flood, dust storms, storms and tropical cyclones (including ex tropical cyclones), severe thunderstorms, hailstorms, and sea level change are increasingly impacting the wellbeing and functioning of our communities, our environment and our economy.

These disasters are increasingly occurring as compounding and cascading events resulting in consequences that may range from modest to substantial. Recent examples include the 2017-2019 drought followed by the 2019-20 bushfires and the COVID pandemic.

Primary producers are on the frontline of climate change, facing an increasing number and severity of single natural disasters every year.

While there are numerous existing industry plans that identify disaster risks, this project seeks to identify opportunities and gaps to assist industry and government to consolidate disaster risk reduction strategies and identify areas for shared action.

The project will benefit all tiers of the forestry, dairy and wine grape sectors in SA and forge a path for similar projects in the grain, livestock, and horticulture sectors.

In the long term, this project is expected to enable agricultural industries and government to identify and implement appropriate strategies that mitigate risk to disasters, emergencies and effects of climate change.

Emergency services and government at all levels will benefit from having people and communities more self-reliant and capable of meeting the challenges of disasters.